Apparatus for forming emulsions



Aug. 29, 1933. w. R. HOWARD 1,925,049

I I APPARATUS 'rOR FORMING EMULSIONS I. l

Original Filed Dec. 20, 1928 Slm ueufoz cv-1MM. MA

, paratus for producing Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED s'ra'rrzsr 'PATENT' lori-"lcs newed January 21, 1932 4 claims. (c1. 259-105) lThis invention relates to a new form of apsingle and double emulsions, the use of such apparatus necessitating a process distinctly diierent from those so far known to the art.

This invention further relates to an apparatus wherein the surface area of the moving parts within the apparatus, exceeds that of the cross sectional area of any plane through the materi.N1 contained in the apparatus as hereinafter more fully described.

This invention further relates to a process wherein the rapidly disperse the materials emulsied, may be carried on under regulated pressure.

In the forming of emulsions it is necessary to effect attenuation and to form the more perfect emulsions this attenuation must be carried on constantly until the material to be emulsiiied is divided into uniformly shaped ne particles and each particle surrounded with an insulating film of the material used to cause the attenuation.

By effecting the attenuation under pressure the dispersion of higher melting point products is made possible.

If the different ingredients to be used in forming an emulsion, are simply mixed and agitated, the resultant product is not so good and very different from that which is obtained by applying the dierent ingredients to a moving'mass of the finished emulsion. There is a vast difference in the product formed by adding the ingredients to a mass, the movement of which is caused by comparatively violent propeller agitation in one relatively small zone of the entire mass, and the product obtained by adding the ingredients to a mass, the entire body of which is moving with regularity due to moving parts.

This improved product referred to above is formed in the process of my invention.

I am aware that processes are operated wherein the agitation of the mass in a container is caused by propeller action, and wherein the movement of the mass is directed by the shape of the apparatus. In all such cases the zone of agitation is so small in proportion to the mass, due, in some cases, to the desire to obtain accelerated movement or velocity at that point, that it retards very materially the capacity for dispersion. The material to be dispersed, when depending on one contact with the agitating means, is not sufciently acted upon the produce 100%,spheroidal shaped particles but leaves a large percent in the constant attenuation necessary to' the large surface area of the form of ellipsoidal shaped molecules, distinguishable under microscopic examination, and which elongated or ellipsoidal shaped molecular particles constitute an inferior emulsion.

The object of this invention is to produce an emulsion rapidly with an inexpensive apparatus, one or more of the ingredients thereof being ordinarily immiscible with the others, but formed by the process of this invention into practically 100% spheroidal shaped the ingredients opposing In the drawing- The Vfigure is a side elevation with parts cut away to more easily describe same.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a container with a detachable cover-2. Inner cylinder or cylinders 3 are mounted on shafts 4 and 5, connected with motors or some means of rotating designated at '7. For the purpose of moving the mass through the inner cylinders 3, they are provided with paddles or propellers 8, and spirally attached fins 9. Inlet pipes 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided with valves 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Outlet pipes 20, 21, and 22 are equipped with regulating valves 23, 24, and 25. 80

The necessary stuillng-boxes 26 are provided where the shafts enter the container 1 below the surface level of the material contained therein.

The process is described as follows:

All outlet lines are closed and the container 1 is filled through inlet pipes as desired, with water and a suitable emulsifying agent such as hydrous fat, colloidal clay or the like. When the containerA 1 is lled with the above mentioned mixture, the inner cylinders 3 are started rotating 90 in the same directions or in opposite direction to each other, leaving the desired space between the inner ends shown on the drawing as A. Then the other ingredients such as vegetable oils, mineral oils, etc., are added through inlet pipes 10, 95 11, and 12 as desired, and controlled by valves 15, 16, and 1'1. As these ingredients are added a like quantity is withdrawn from outlet pipes 20, 21, or 22 as desired and is regulated by means of valves 23, 24, 25.

When the right amount of the oily materials to be dispersed in the water solution has been added and the emulsication effected to a degree such that a finished product has been obtained in the container, water and emulsifying agent are allowed to flow through lines 13 and 14 controlled by valves 18 and 19, respectively, in such proportions that the ingredients admitted through all inlets will form the desired composition to make upthe finished product. As

particles with other of their agglomeration.

different ingredients entering at l Any or all outlets may be used lby operating the inlets under a the inner cylinders 3 rotate, the fan blades or propellers 8, when rotating in opposite directions, advance the material from the outer ends o1' cylinders 3 into the space A and'cause a circulation as shown by the arrows. As this circulation progresses it will be seen that the entire surface of the inner cylinders, both inside and outside surfaces, are constantly in contact with a large amount oi' the mass in the container and that the entire mass in the container is kept in a continual state of smearing its component particles one on the other. This continual smearing produces the uniform dispersion of tiny rounded molecules by prolonged attenuation which can not be obtained if the materials are rushed to a point of violent agitation and then allowed to loiter during the balance of the circulation, giving higher boiling point materials a chance to cool.

It will be noticed that the inlets tioned that they may be used with respect to desired positions with regard to the ends of the inner cylinders 3. Any or all inlets may be used as desired. as desired, and forced feed, the outlets may be operated to maintain a pressure on the contents of the container 1 as the product is produced.

Where pressure inside the apparatus is not desired for more eilective attenuation, the cover 2 may be removed and the process run by adding zontal as may be the the .ingredients to the surface of the material in the container.

A single inner cylinder may be provided in one piece with the flow of the material in one end and out the other.

The container 1 may be perpendicular or horiinner cylinders 3, but in the revolving thereof the moving surfaces must be greater in area than any cross sectional plane through any part of the container.

I have found that an apparatus one third in size, where the cylinder revolves inside, can produce more nished and better emulsion than where the inner cylinder is stationary and the circulation is produced by a rotating propeller in said container.

are so posi- It is sometimes desirable when adding ingredients to an already nished emulsion, that the emulsion be entered through inlet 10 and the other ingredient through inlet 14 so that the admixtures will be thorough at the opening before continuingA with the constant attenuation caused by passing in circulation along the revolving plane of the inner cylinders. I do not limit myself to the details of the foregoing example but claim as my invention:

1. Anemulsifying apparatus comprising a container, rotatable cylinders mounted wholly within the same, means for rotating said cylinders, means for causing a iiow of the material in the container through said cylinders, means for admitting materials to be emulsied to said containerand means for withdrawing the finished product.

2. An emulsifying apparatus comprising a closed container, rotatable cylinders mounted wholly within same, means for rotating said cylinders, means for causing a ow of the material in the container through said cylinders, means for regulating incoming materials under forced feed and means for withdrawing finished product to regulate the pressure inside the container.

3. An apparatus for producing emulsions comprising a chamber, rotatable hollow cylinders positioned in said chamber, means for rotating said cylinders, means for causing material in said chamber to cyclically flow through said cylinders, said cylinders having an exposed area to the material in the chamber greater than the cross sectional area of the chamber.

4. An apparatus for producing emulsions comprising in combination. a chamber, hollow surfaces of revolution positioned in said chamber, means for moving said surfaces within said chamber, means for cyclically passing material in said chamber through the spaces bounded by said surfaces in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said surfaces, said surfaces having an area exposed to the material in the chamber greater than the cross sectional area of the chamber.

WILLIAM R. HOWARD. 

